Proof American Buffalo gold coin sales start, continues annual series

Sales of past issues have waxed and waned as interest in coin changes

The Proof 2014-W American Buffalo 1-ounce gold bullion coin went on sale May 8 at a price of $1,640.

The Proof 2014-W American Buffalo 1-ounce gold coin went on sale May 8 from the U.S. Mint, the latest release in an annual series.

The coin went on sale with an initial price of $1,640. As with other gold and silver coins sold by the United States Mint, that price is subject to change as the price of gold changes on the London market.

The 2014 edition of the Proof American Buffalo 1-ounce gold coin has no set maximum mintage or household order limits, though the Mint will end sales once production capacity is reached.

The Proof coin is a collector version of the Mint’s annual bullion coin of the same design.

Sales figures for series

The 2013 edition has a preliminary sales figure of 18,954 pieces, with the 2012 coin selling approximately 19,765 pieces. Neither coin remains available from the Mint, and neither sales figure is audited and finalized, so each number is subject to change.

Sales for the coin have shown dramatic changes over the years, waxing and waning as collector/dealer interest in the coins changed, and the price of gold rose and fell.

The first Proof versions were sold in 2006 to the tune of 246,267 pieces, when collectors and dealers embraced the nation’s first pure gold coin (.9999 fine), which also happened to bear one of the most popular U.S. coin designs.

Sales dropped to 58,998 coins for the 2007 edition, with sales for the 2008 coin falling to just 18,863 pieces. An Uncirculated collector version was introduced in 2008, possibly siphoning off some sales; the final mintage of that coin reached 9,074 pieces. In addition, the Mint offered Proof and Uncirculated versions of tenth-ounce, quarter-ounce and half-ounce editions of the coin in what proved to be a one-year-only offering.

Sales for the 2009 and 2010 coins each rested between the 49,000 and 50,000 levels. No Uncirculated coin was offered in 2009 or 2010.

The Commission of Fine Artsâ recommendation for the Proof 2014 American Eagle platinum coin, left, brought outrage and derision at the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee meeting. The CCAC recommended the design to the right.

The Commission of Fine Artsâ recommendation for the Proof 2014 American Eagle platinum coin, left, brought outrage and derision at the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee meeting. The CCAC recommended the design to the right.

The Commission of Fine Artsâ recommendation for the Proof 2014 American Eagle platinum coin, left, brought outrage and derision at the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee meeting. The CCAC recommended the design to the right.

The Commission of Fine Artsâ recommendation for the Proof 2014 American Eagle platinum coin, left, brought outrage and derision at the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee meeting. The CCAC recommended the design to the right.

The Commission of Fine Artsâ recommendation for the Proof 2014 American Eagle platinum coin, left, brought outrage and derision at the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee meeting. The CCAC recommended the design to the right.